The Mount of Olives

Intro:

We’ve been walking through the reflections of Christs life as he hangs on the cross. We’ve been reminded of some important things the last few weeks. 1) You are the Temple now! 2) See the miraculous in the mundane! 3) Let Jesus wash your feet!

This week we continue to join Christ on his “Observation post” as he looks towards the Mt. of Olives.

Teach:

He can’t see it, but He feels it.

From where Christ hangs on the cross, he cannot see the Mount. The temple blocks his view.

But as he reflects on his journey to the cross, the Mount of Olives is lodged in his mind.

The Garden, the Cave, The summit.

Gethsemane, the foot of the Mountain.

Gethsemane means, oil press.

Often the place Jesus would retreat to to rest and spend time with his father.

He would sometimes stay the night in that restful place.

The disciples were invited to keep watch on his last night there.

The slopes of Christs teaching.

The cave of teaching.

Between the garden and the summit, tradition speaks of a cave on the slopes of the mountain.

(Mark 13:3–27 “While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple…)

The peak of ascension.

(Luke 24:50–53 “Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany…) and (Acts 1:12 “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away.”)

The spot where Jesus will leave his disciples, and launch the Church!

Christ Journey across Jerusalem, the valley, and into the Garden.

Jesus walks past places in Jerusalem we have been talking about, he sees the memories, triumphs, and losses of his people.

He exits the city gate, walks through the Kidron valley, and into the garden.

Here he tells his disciples to wait and takes peter James and John with him. He asks them to “Stay, and watch with me”.

The beginning of Christs Passion.

He prays, “Take this cup from me” as he is given the chalice that no man but him can drink.

It is the sin of the world begging to be poured upon him. As he becomes the sacrifice for all sin.

Psalm 18:5 “The ropes of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Preach:

All sin, for all time, on one man.

we can’t even handle the guilt of our own sin. Imagine the pain of carrying ALL sin.

Imagine carrying all sin for ALL TIME!

It’s too much. But Jesus would do it for ALL or for ONE!

Jesus would have done it to save one. (Matthew 18:12 “What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray?”)

All sin or only one mans, Jesus would die for it.

Christ Alone Saves Us

ONE man saved all, in the garden he goes to seek help from his favorite three and there, they sleep.

This fight of Christs will be between the sin of the world and him alone. He will find no reprieve from men.

Matthew 26:45 “Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

They have been utterly useless. Christ is in agony, and they are mostly concerned with their own comfort.

Modern Christians are no better, more concerned with their own concerns and desires inside and out side the church, while Christ still suffers for the sins of the world, and still their own sins?

Are you as bothered by your own sin as much as the actions of others bother you? Because your sin put Christ in agony.

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Acts 4:12 “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

How pathetic it is when we think WE can offer anything now towards our salvation. When Christ needed us most, we abandoned him. We will always be unable to do the work of the cross.

Christ did it alone in the garden, because He must.

Christ ALONE does it today.

Bend my will to yours Father.

Christ prays on his last round with the Father, “Remove this cup from me, if it is possible!” (Mark 14:35)

IF IT IS POSSIBLE! - it wasn't possible, Jesus shows us the core principle of prayer, to make our will in line with the Fathers.

“Arise, let us go!” - (Mark 14:42)

It’s no longer dread, the cross calls. The beatings, the torment, the jeers… He is ready. His will and the Fathers are one.

Apply:

Meet me in Gethsemane

Jesus invites us to join him, when trouble comes, your your cross looms in the distance. Join him in the garden.